For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. I CORINTHIANS 3:9 

My news director once assigned me a story that was way over my head. It was a topic that was numerical and confusing, like taxes or something. I don’t even remember, that’s how little it piqued my interest. I begged her to reassign me with something else, because goodness gracious, this blondie has a hard enough time changing a lightbulb let alone interpreting legal documents with a bunch of stupid numbers. 

However, my boss didn’t budge. She told me to suck it up and do the story. And out of all the stories I did while working at that station, that dumb story was the most watched and most commented on by the viewers. Not only that, I learned a lot about that topic and grew from the challenge. Clearly whatever I learned didn’t stick, bless my heart, but still. It was a good lesson at the time! 

My job as a reporter was to be a vessel for the station and to pour out information for the benefit of the audience. And as Christians, our job is to be vessels for the Lord and to pour out His Spirit for the benefit of others. 

However, being God’s vessel and allowing Him to call the shots without input, arguing, or distrust goes against everything ingrained within us. At times, it seems easier to be our own boss, question everything, and trust our own instincts; and while those things can be valuable in the natural, God calls us to do the opposite in our spiritual walk with Christ. In order to be a vessel that is functional, practical, and useful for the souls around us, we must allow Him to take the reins over every area of our lives. 

We are spiritually eternal beings living through a temporary physical experience. When we fully understand this, it humbles us and allows us to loosen our chokehold of control over life. Giving God all that we are and trusting His assignments allows our vessel to overflow for His glory in ways that we could never do on our own. 

God, make me a vessel. Help me to release the reins of control. I trust that Your plan for my life is more beneficial than mine; humble me, use me, fill me. Amen. 

This is an excerpt from Goodness Gracious: 90 Unfiltered Devotions for This Sometimes-Too-Serious Life by Hannah Crews a devotional now available for pre-order on DaySpring.com. Shop all books, journals, and devotions from DaySpring here.